Cotton-harvester.



i. L. UPSHAW. COTTON HARVESTER.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26', 1912. 1,079,585 Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES /Nl/ENTOR MWL U j Allorney L. L. UPSHAW. COTTON HARVESTER.APPLIOATION FILED AUG.Y26, 1912.

Patented NOV. 25,1913.

5 SHEBTB-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES Allarm' L.' L.UPSHAW. COTTON HARVESTER.

AfuJPLIcm'I'IoN FILED AUG. 26, 1912.

' Paten-tea Nov.251913,

5 SHEETS-SHEET a.

E, ,LIIIIITIUBLT hm. 5? w WITNESS/s L. L. UPSHAW.

ooTToN HARVESTER.

APLIOATION FILED AUG. 26, 1912. 1,079,585 APatented NOV.25, 1913.

5 SHEETS-TSHBET 4.

- L. L. Upsmvv'.y

GOTTON HARVESTER. v v APPLICATION PIII-ED AUQ.26, 1912.. 1,079,585 tPatented Nov.25,1913.

\5 SHEETS-SHEET 5. i

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25. mh/@ l @Wma/Magma) and co-acting rack bars, 45.

' UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

LUCIUS L. UPSHAW, OF DENISON, TXASVAS-SIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH-T0 GODWIN L.BLACKFORD AND ONE-FIFTH TO P'ATBIC H. TOBIN, BOTH 0F DENISON, TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

COTTONfHAR-VESTER.

Application filed August 26, 1912. Serial No. 717,028.

Denison, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Harvesters, of which thefollowing 1s a specification.

This invention relates to certain new andl useful improvements inmachines designed forthe harvesting of the cotton crop and the inventionconsists of the parts, and the constructions, varrangements andcombinations of parts which I will hereinafter describe and claim. v i

A leading object of my present invention is to provide a machine, whichis capable of operating upon two rows of standing cott0n at the sametime, and to economically harvest the cotton and deliver the same intoa. suitable receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to simplify a machine of thecharacter described by reducing as much as possible the number of movingparts and tothereby lighten and cheapen the manufacture of the. machine,

.and to increase the capacity of the machine by having the parts soarranged .that a complete picking` mechanism is provided at each side ofthe center of the machine, ,with the mechanism at one side capable ofoperating ilpon a row of cotton plants at that side and themechanism atthe opposite side of',said\ machine being capable of operating uponanother row of plants, the two mechanisms beingdriven in unison and bypower derived from the pair of traction wheels upon which the machineisl supported.

A further object of the invention is v toA zontal sectional view ontheline 3---3v ofv Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail partially brokenaway of one of the vertical rods, 40, showing a series of pickerspindles Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4. `6 is 'a plan view of therack, 45, detached. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of one of the' sprocket-vwheels" showing picker spindles anrl'radially v movable bars associatedtherewith. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a crosssection of Fig. 7 on the line 9 9. Fig. 10- is a diagrammatic viewshowing a series of picker spindles and the several positions which theyassume in passing around an end' sprocket.

In my prior Patent'No. 1,041,202, dated October 15, 1912, Ihavedesclosed a cotton harvesting machine of the general type shown inthe accompanying drawings, eX cept that while the machine of the priorpatent is supplied with a pair of endless carriers provided with pickermechanism which operates from opposite sides upon a single row of cottonplants, the present machine has the endless carriers so arranged thatthe picking devices operate upon rows of plants spaced apart'and onedisposed near feach outer side of the machine, as' I will hereinafterfully describe; that the picking mechanism is given a differentarrangement from that of the former patent and is simplified by theomission of parts found in the prior application for giving theaccelerated speed to the picking spindles; and that the picking deviceshave been simplified in character and are made more effective for theirintended purpose.

In carrying out my invention, the various parts of the machine mayreceive power and actuation from the traction of the main orsupportingwheels of the machine, and to this end, the traction wheels,2, may be of any approved construction, whose tread surfaces will soengage the ground that as the machine is drawn thereover, the saidwheels will be positively rotated and Without liability to slippage.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the traction wheels havehubs provided with sprocket-wheels, 3, and each of these wheels isdesigned to drive a smaller Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

sprocket-wheel, 4, mounted on a horizontal fixed to the upper end of avertical shaft, 8, as shown in Fig. 1. The arrangement of this train ofearing may be varied without materially a ecting the salient features ofthe present invention, and it will be understood that any of the wellknown equivalents forithe gears and driving arrangementvhereinbeforedescribed, may be used without altering the scope of the invention.

The main supporting or traction wheels, 2, of which there is one on eachside of the machine, are loosely mounted on the journal ends of a bentshaft,` 9, which shaft is of arch-form and extends across the top of themachine slightly in rear of the center thereof, and itfforms a su portfor the Iao standard, l0, of the operator s seat and for such otherladjuncts as a machine of this.

character might require, these various elements being suitably placedwithin the ready access of the operator.

Thelmain frame, 11, may be of any suitable construction and material andis supported on the main shaft and by a single centrally placed steerinwheel, 12, at the front end of the mac ine, said steering wheel, 12,being mounted in a yoke having a vertical spindle, 13, suitably mountedin an extension, 14, of the front of the main frame, and said spindlebeing suitably cony nected to the tongue, 15, of the machine, or

otherwise, by which the wheelmay be turned to' change the direction oftravel of the machine.

The main frame of the machine is designed to be rigid and as light asconsistent with the work which a machine of this ch ar ent machine willbe provided with crank shafts, 16 and 17, extending transversely acrossthe machine near the front and rear ends. The. forward crank shaft, 16,has its ends bent downwardly and forwardly to form cranks, 16",yprovided with out-turned journals whichare pivotally mounted in bearingson the main frame.

.The rearicrank shaft, 17, is connected to the forward crank shaft bymeans of a connecting bar, 18, or other equivalent means, said rearshaft extending across the machine and the cranks of said rear shaftexi' tending downwardly and forwardly and having journal ends pivotallymounted in one .of the arms ofU-shaped brackets or extensions, 19,secured `to the mainframe, as shown in Fig. 2. The main frame thussupports` at its front and rear, the crank arms of the two parallelcross shafts,16 and 17, which are connected to move in unison and tothereby raise and .lower the supplevmental or upper frame of themachine, in a said frame being yin operation slightly inclined to thehorizontal and said upper frame, also,I having parallel bars, 22,appropriately spaced from the side bars of the frame and extending fromfront to rear cross-bar of said frame, said upper or supplemental framebeing'V provided wit-h suitable journal boxes in which the crank shafts,16 and 17 are appropriately mounted.

The upper or supplemental frame may be of any suitable construction andof such dimensions as may `be desired, and in order that the machine maybe capable of operating upon parallel rows of growing cotton plants atthe same time, I prefer to make the frame adjustable lin width so as tocompensate for the difference in width between such rows of plants. Tothis end I prefer to have the front and rear bars, 21, of thesupplemental frame divided and with their meeting ends overlapping andprovided with perforations, 23, adapted to receive suitable bolts, 24,with securing nuts whereby thewidth of the supplemental frame may beincreased or diminished. This or an equivalent construction enables meto so adjust the width of the machine that the picking mechanism whichis carried by the upper or supplemental frame may be adjusted relativelyto thespace between rows of growing plants, and that said mechanism mayoperatively engage and remove the cotton from each rowand deliver thesame into the center of the machine, as I will presently describe.

In order that-the upper frame and its accessories may be held in any ofthe adjusted positions and at any desired vertical height relatively tothe ground and the growing plants, I mount upon the -upper framesuitable spring V actuated latches, 25,

adapted to engageholes-formed in the segments, 26, Fig. 2, secured tothe fixed lower` frame in some appropriate manner said spring latchesbeing connected by rods, 27, or otherwise to a crank or lever, 28,suitably journaled in a support, 29, on the upper frame adjacent' theseat of the operator, whereby the operation of the liever in onedirect-ion 'withdraws the spring actuated latches from 'their engagementwith the perforated segments, 26, and unlocks the swinging up'ner framefrom its connectionI with the lower frame and thereby permits the twocrank shafts, 16 and 17, to turn vlll about their journal ends and theupper frame and its various parts to -be vertically adjusted. Thislocking mechanism is fully ferred to, it will be apparent that when theupper frame is unlocked from the rigid main frame and the operatorpresses downy wardly on the front cross shaft, -or a cro-ss bar, 30, thetwo shafts, 16 and 17, willturn about their lower journal ends and theupper frame and its contained mechanism, which l will hereinafterdescribe, will be lowered vrelatively to the fixed main frame and to thecotton plants.

The upper frame may be lowered against the resistance of asuitablespring, 31, by

the operator pressing downwardly upon some rigid part of the swingingframe, as for instance the cross bar, 30, thereof thereby holding thespring under tension so that when the locking mechanism is actuated torelease the upper frame.4 from its locked position with the main frame,theA said spring reacts to elevate the upper frame in a mannersubstantially as disclosed in my` aforesaid application, said spring.having one end connected to the upper frame and the other end suitablyconnected to the main frame or to an extension thereof, as shown in Fig.1.

The'improved picking mechanism is well illustrated in Figs. 3, land 5,and as this mechanism is duplicated-ateach side of the longitudinalcenter of the machine, a description of one of the mechanisms, or at yleast of the mechanism along one sideof the center of the machine andwhich mechanism is designed to operate upona row of plants at that sideof the machine, will apply to the corresponding mechanism at the otherknown manner on or in the closed bottom,

33, of the vertically adjustable frame and which bottom is suitablyysupported and fixed to the vertical standards or supports, 34. The frontvertical shafts have their upper ends appropriately mounted in bearings,35fixed to the cross-bar, 30, and the vertical shaft at the rear portionof the machine has fixed to it the beveled pinion, 7, whichis engaged bythe corresponding pinion, 6, on the transverse shaft, 5, which derivespower from the traction wheels through the sprockets gears, 3 and 4, andconnecting chain before mentioned, said rearvertical shaft havingfixedly secured' to its upper portion, near the top. ofthe upper frame,a sprocket-wheel, 36, around which passes a suitable sprocket chain, 37,said chain extending forwardly and around the correspondingsprocket-wheel,- 38, xed to the upper end of the vertical shaft at thefront portion of the frame -whereby the shafts at opposite ends of thesame side of the frame of the machine are rotated in uni-I son in thesame direction. There are corresponding sprocket-wheels, 36', 38 at thelower ends of the front and rearvertical shafts with a sprocket-chain,39, passing around the same. j

As intmy aforesaid prior application, the upper and lower main sprocketchains, 37 and 39, are appropriately connected by vertically disposedrods or bars, 40, which form carriers for the picker-,spindles which Iwill presently describe, the Aconnection of the ends of these rods beingsuch that the rods may. swing horizontally about their end portions asan axis.- These 'rodsare vertically arranged and are spaced a suitabledistance apart along the sprocket chains'and as many of said rods may beused as de- The rods are transversely bored to receive the pickingspindles and their adjuncts, the said spindles being arranged invertical rows and as manyvof these rows of spindles .i

may be used as may be thought advisable.`

and which material may be interwovenor otherwise carried by a twistedWire or other holderwhich is passed into thetube so that the bristles orfiber will project through'the perforations a sufficient distance to,cause them to engage the cotton when revolved in contact therewith, andthus remove the' cotton from the holly-By using twisted-wire withfiber'fixed to the coils thereof, it is quite evident that by rotationof the twisted Wire in the'spindle, the brush fiber may be projected orwithdrawn, thus adjusting the length of the fiber which is exposed onthe outside of the picker spindle. This arrange- -ment as well as thecountersinking ofthe .tions without material injury to the fiber` whenstripping the spindle of an -accumulated mass of picked cotton, is fullydisclosed in my aforesaid application, and, therefore," forms noessential part of the present improvements, as any well known andappropriate type of picker spindle may be used in lieu of the specificone herein shown and described, except as the same is modified by thefollowing description.

-In practice, I prefer that the picker spindle shall extend through anappropriate bushing or sleeve, 43, fixed in the vertical rod or bar, 40,the spindle projecting beyond the opposite side of said bar and havingupon its inner end a pinion or toothed wheel,

' 44. vThis wheel operates in connection with of the vertical shafts, 8and 32, said racksV a suitable rack, 45,-shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5and 6, and which rack has greater jwidth than the thickness of the wheelwhich it engages. There will be one of these racksA for each row ofpicker spindles, the racks being arranged in vertical order as shown inFigs. 4 and 5, and said racks extending from one to the other of thefront-and rear sprocket wheels and having curved ends (Fig. 6) which areconcentric with the axis 'having outwardly projecting slotted lugs,'45', which are designed to straddle the vertical supports, 34, which inthe present case are shown as being in the form of threaded rods adaptedto operatively receivev the nuts, 46, and-whichnuts are designed to ysecurely clamp and hold between them the aforesaid lugs of the racks,whereby said racks are rigidly secured in place and to the upper orswinging frame without having their position altered relatively to theframe.

It will beobserved that the picker-spindle pinions have their teethbeveled on all sides so that the teeth have practically a pyramidalform, and that the teeth of the rack bar and, which teeth are hereinshow-n in .the form of cross rods, 47, (but which rods may represent anytoothed structure capable 0f co-acting with the teeth of the pinions)have greater width than that of the pinion. This enables the pinicntoyhave a should project horizontally across the plants as indicated inFigs. 1 and 3, and as the loaded spindles pass .around the rearsprocket-wheels, and reach the rear central por' et-wheel, 36, andtoward the front of the j machine,'the picker-spindles are designed toremain in their folded position pointing rearwardly and inclined sightly to the line of travel of the sprocket chains. This positionismaintained by the picker-spindles until just before the spindles reachthe forward end of the machine at which p'oint they arel again rightedby degrees, until they project substantially and radially in passingaround the front sprockets sothat they are in proper position to passcrosswise of the cotton plants; they will then be held in this positionsubject to a certain oscillation in a horizontal direction, which I willpresently refer to. To compensate for the necessary changes 1n the angleof the picker-spindles, as they pass around the sprockets, I arrangethat -portion of the rack bars which is substantlally concentric withthe vertical shafts with its teeth or projections tangent to the circledescribed by the sprocket-wheels, and, therefore, the rack bars shouldhave greater width than the width of the picker-spindle pinion, 44, thatsaid pinion may have a slight transverse sliding movement on the teeth,it being understood -that the picker spindles are not held radially tothe vertical shaft when assing` therearound, but that they should betangent to the shaft, when passing around the first sprocket-wheel, 38,and that their angle should be progressively changed so that when theycollie into the presence of the growing plants they will be 1n aposition to project cross-wise thereof in a horizontal direction andwill be held in this position during the period of their rotation, orwhile gathering the cotton, and which period commences just when thepicker-spindles first enter the space represented between the parallelbars, 20 and 22, of the swinging frame ari` posed tov cover or overliearow of growing plants, and which rotation of the spindles terminates asthe-spindles leave this space and the rack at the rear end of themachine, it being understood that the picker-spindles ety which issuptravel rearwardly as they pass along the forwardly in the central4portion of the' frame, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The arrangement is the same at both; sides of the machine andconsequent-ly as the ysprocket chains travel with their outer runsmoving to the rear, the spindles are in operative position and aregathering cotton f rom two rows at the same time; the inner thereby arethen in their folded inoperative position and moving toward the frontend of the machine, at which latter place the picker spindles aresuccessively unfolded and caused to' assume the different anglespreparatory to being again projected into the cotton plants. It is atthis latter point, namely, the front end of the machine that the pickerspindle pinions first engage the tangentially disposed teeth of the rackbar and it is here that the tangential arrangement of the teeth of therack-bar is of im portance, because as t-he spindles carry the pinionsand as the angle of the picker spindles is constantly changed the angle,of the rack'teeth is co-rrespondingly changed so that the pinions willride smoothly over the rack without any tendency to bind thereon duringthis ever changing inclination of the spindle. To facilitate this actionI prefer that the teeth of the pinion shall be beveled from all sides,as indicated in Fig. 4.

It will be understood that the changes inA the angle of the pickerspindles occur during the time that the folded spindles are emergingfrom the central portion of the machine and operating across the front`of the machine preparatory to entering the range of the growing plantsand preliminary to the picker-spin le pinio-ns first entering the vrackand engaging the initial tangentially-arranged teeth thereof, and amechanism for positively turning the spindles to different angles duringthelr travel from the inoperative or idle to the operativeior activeposition as just mentioned, is illust-rated in Figs. 7 .to 10 inclusivealthough I desire it known that I do not limit the invention to thespecific spindle-adjusting mechanism therel 1n shown as other mechanism`lof an equivatrated the same as one embodiment of this =-pliase of theimproved machine, said mechanismcomprising a two-armed member, i 50,

which is fxedly secured to the upper end of the vertical rod or bar, 40,which carries t-he picker-spindles, it being understood that each ofthese bars willbe supplied with one of said members and that said membermay have fixedto it a toothed collar, 51, which 'striking end, 53, whichvin the operation of has a short rack surface near its outer end andsaid outer end, beyond the rack surface,

is slightly curved .to form substantially a the slidable bar is designedto engage a projection, 54, formed 'on the back of the toothed collar,5l, or on a portion of the collar opposite to that carrying the teeth,whereby as a picker-spindle emerges from the centralportion of themachine, in its foldedy condition, the projection, 53, on the toothedcollar is at the same time carried into the range of action of the endof a'rackbar carried by the sprocket-wheel, and as this rack-bar ismoved o-utwardly by a suitable cam, 55, such as I will presentlydescribe, the end of the rack-bar will first engage the projection onthe toothed collar, and thus cause the collar and the vertical 95 barwhich it carries to partially rotate. This carries the picker-spindlesof that vertical bar from their folded position to a different angle,and brings the toothed portion of the v collars on that bar intoengagement with the teeth on the radial bars, whereby as the radialrack-bars are further moved outwardly by passing around the stationarycani, 55, the toothedcollars will be further, rotated and the pickerspindles will be carried to a still different angle, pointing more.4sharply outwardly until in passingv about aquarter. of the distancearound the sprocketwheel, the picker-spindles will have been turnedthrough an arc of about 180 degrees, 110' or will have been reversedfrom the position shown at the lower portion of Fig. 10, to the positionshown at the left central part of said figure. During the further travelof the chain and passa e of the radial 'bars 115 around the cam, 55, t epicker-spindles are again moved by 4the engagement of the rack-bar andcollar so that by the time the spindles come into the presence ofgrowing plants they will have been turned a little V more than 180degrees, and until they point outwardly and sll htly to the rear. As theradially slidable ar is Withdrawn by the action of its actuating cam,55, the spindles will be rotated backwardly a short distance .and untilthe teeth on the radial bar disengage the teeth on the collar, which atonce disconnects the collar from the radially slidable toothed bar, andpermits lthe picker- Spindle-pinion to immediately engag` the 13gstraight portion of the' rack, 45, and to be rotated by its engagementtherewith during the travel of the picker-spindle from front to rear ofthe machine.

The radially slidable rack-bars are oper.- ated by suitable means as bythe cam, 55, shown in Fig. 8, said cam having an arm, 56, by which itmay be fixed to some stationary parte, as the supplemental frame andhaving one part arranged to engage the inner end of the rack bar so asto project this bar outwardly and cause the rack teeth thereof tooperatively engage and rotate the toothed collar which by being fixed tothe vertical rod or bar, 40, which carries the picker-spindles ofthat-particular series, rotates this bar and correspondingly moves thepicker-spindles ofthe series carried by the bar, in a horizontal planethus changing the angular position of the picker-spindles, said camhaving a second portion, say in the formof an annular ca m groove,adapted' to engage the hook-sh'aped end of the rack-bar towithdraw thisbar during the rotation of the sprocket and as the gradually reducedportion of the camA comes successively into engagement with t-he inneror hook-shaped end of the rack-bar. It'will thus be seen that' as thelfolded picker-spindles emerge from the central front portion of themachine, the vertical bar-Which carries the first set of spindles isbrought into such position so'that the toothed segment may be'engagedand partially turned by the first of the radially movable rack-bars, theinner end of which bar is in engagement withl a low port-ion'ofthe cam,55, and as this sprocket rotates the successively increasing portionofthe cam surface acts upon the rack-bar and fo-rces the same radiallyoutwardly and thereby causes the teeth of the rack-bar to engage theteeth of the collar and thus partially rotate the collar and itsattached vertical rod to-cause the picker-spindle to be turnedhorizontally in an arc of a circle, thereby changing the inclination ofthe picker-spindles. As the sprocket continues to rotate the increasingportion of the cam .surface progressively operates upon the radialslldable rack-bar and thus through this bar and the toothed collar whichit en gages, the angle of the picker-spindles carried'thereby will beprogressively changed until the bars arrive at the opposite side of thesprocket, in which posit-ion the pickerspindles will now projectsubstantiallyv at r1ghty angles to the travel of the sprocket chain andacross the row of plants. It-fis v just previous to this point that thepickerspindle pinions, 44, enter and engage ythe forward end of therack-bars, 45, and it' is because of the final shifting movement of theinclination of the spindles to reach the right angled position shown at5 7, in Fig; IO-,that f I prefer to make the initial teeth inthe curvedend of the rack-bars, 45, tangent to the travel of the picker-spindlepinions and to make the racks wider than the width of the pinions and tobevel the teeth of the pinions to allow the pinions free movementwithout danger of binding, as said pinions travel over the curvedportion of the rackbars, 45, and before they reach the parallel teeth ofsaid bars, over which the spindles now travel to the rear end of themachine, and during which v'travel they gather the cotton.

In passing around the rear sprocket wheel, 36, the picker-spindles areprogressively folded by a similar arrangement of cam and rack-barassociated-with the rear sprocket, the arrangement being similar to thatshown in Fig. 8, and the purpose of the construction being to fold thepicker-spindles toward each other so that as these spindles reach theinner side of the sprocket, 36, they point rearwardly and in thisposition they pass through suitable. stripper plates, 60,3 by means ofwhich the cotton adhering to the picker-spindles is stripped therefromand falls upon the bottom of the centralportion of the machine. Thisportion of the bottom lnay be in the form of a 'trough and in thistrough operates a single 'fitted over the discharge end of themaclineand adapted as a receiver for the picked cotton, said bag beingsupported upon a platform, 66, hingedly secured to the rear cross bar,of the upper frame of the machine and said platform having its rear endsupported by means of rods,.67, or equivalent devices connected to aring, 68, which is adapt-ed to detachably engage a hook-shaped member,69, secured to the rear cross-bar of said frame, as shown in Fig. l.

As the picker-spindles often become entangled in the branches of agrowing plant to such an extent that the-branch is often broken andAexcessive strains are thrown upon the spindles, and twigs and litter dueto torn leaves are sometimes carried with the cotton, to the point ofdeposit, I prefer in the present improvement, that the pickerspin leshall be yconstructed so that it will, yield under a predeterminedpressure or strain. To this end the pinion, 44, is loose upon thejournal end ofthe spindle, and on the inner end of the spindle betweenthe pinion and the vertical rod or bar, 40, is a compression spring, 70,the tension of which may be adjusted at all times by a suitable nut, 71,oncthev inner threaded end of the picker-spindle, as shown in Fig. 4.

Suitable washers are used between the nut and pinion and at each'end ofthe spring,

and by turning the nut an'd'thereby adjusting the tension of the spring,the pinion will be held firmly to the'picker-spindle under normalconditions, but when the pickerspindle meets an obstruction or aresistance, which is in excess of that of the tension of the spring, 70,the latter permits the pinion to turn relatively to the spindle as saidpinion is traveling over the rack, until the ob-` struction is passed,or the resistance is reduced belowv the tension of the spring, when theparts return to normal position and the dead spindle may be lagainrotated by and in unison with the pinion. I thus provide a mechanismwhich is automatic in its operation and which will relieve thepickerspindles of excessive strains -and will accordingly prolong thelife of ythese important parts. It is also desirable that in their'operating posit-ion the spindles shall be oscillated in a horizontalplane' while operating through the' plants, because 'by this movementthe spindles have greater range ,of movement and are more veffective insearching out the open bolls of cotton, and to this end I have shown inFig. 3, a guide, 75, having an outer side of `undulating form il andwhich guide is positioned in the upper portion of the swinging frame ofthe machine just below and substantially under one of the longitudinalangle-beams, 22, of

' said framed undulating surface of the guide, the arms will .be'rockedand the vertical rods which carry the picker-spindles andy which arefixed to thearms will be correspondingly rocked thereby oscillating therotatin spindles horizontally in the resence of t e cot-. ton during thetravel o the picking mechanism from front to rear of thernachine, orwhile the parts are in condition for gathering the cotton. As showninFig. 3, the cam guide has laterally projecting flanges which areclamped by nuts, 78, to the ver.- tical uprightsgor standards, 34, towhich are also clamped the rack-bars'over which the picker-spindlesoperate.

From the foregoing it will be observed' that I have designed a machinewhichx is provided with two similar picking if for dischargingthestripped cotton.

nisms operating in unison and each of which is designed tol-successfully remove cotton from a' row of standing plants and at thesame time each of the rotatable pickerspindles is caused toautomatically adjust itself and its angle of inclination with' respectto the growing'plant so as to enter the same with as little damage tothe plant and to the spindle as is possible, and that the spindles aregiven an oscillation, or in other words caused to range about in theplant to Seek out the open bolls, during the travel of thepicking-spindle from one end of the machine t-o the other, the mechanismcarrying the spindles operating in the same direction, andthe spindlesof the 'two mechanism folding as they enter the rear central portion ofthe machine and adapted to deliver the picked cotton so that the samemay be discharged into thereceiver, 65, as before mentioned.

.While I have shown and described in this' application 'a specific formof pickerspindle mechanism, I do not claim the same herein, asA thismechanism forms the subject matter of a separate application filed by meof even date herewith, Serial No. 717,029.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:- y

1. A cotton harvester, comprising a frame, supporting wheels therefor,endless carriers mounted in the frame, and substantially-horizontally-disposed,` one of said carries belinglat cach side of the'center of the machine and each of the carriers having its outer runmoving horizontally toward t-he rear of the machine,horizontally-disposed picker spindles movable with the carriers, meanson the frame adjacent the outer run of the carriers-for rotating saidspindlesthe spindles cotton plants at one side of the machine andoutside of the outer runof a carrier, and the spindles of the outer runof the other carrier operating upon the plants of another row at ltheopposite side of the machine'andA outside of the outer run of thesecond-named fcarrier, lstripping elements at the rear central portionof the machine toward which the loaded spindles of the two carriersapproach from opposite sides, and means operating at the central portionof the machine 2. A cotton harvester, comprising a frame,

i supporting wheels therefor, endless carriers mounted in the frame andsubstantially horizontally-disposed, one of said carriers being' at eachside of the center of the .machine and each of the carriers having itsouter run moving` horizontally toward the rear of said rmachine,horizontally-disposed picker spindles "movable with the carriers, meanson the frame adjacent the outer run of thelcarriers for rotating saidspindles, the spindles -of vof one carrier operating upon one row vofy50 approaching each other at the center of the.

one carrier operating upon one row of cotton plants at one side of themachine and outside ofthe outer run of a carrier, and the spindles ofthe outer run of the other carrier operating upon the plants of anotherrow at the opposite'side of the machine land outside of the outer run ofthesecond-named carrier, the spindles of the two carriers approachingeach other from opposite directions toWard the central portion of themachine, and means at the rear central portion of said machine forstripping the cotton from the spindle of said carriers.`

3. A cotton harvester, comprising a frame and supporting wheelstherefor, endless-carriers mounted in the frame, one at each sideofthecenter thereof, means for operating the carriers, horizontally disposedpickerj spindles Amovable with the carriers, and

means adjacent the outer runs of the carriers for rotating the spindlescarried thereby, the spindles of'one carrier operating upon one row ofcotton plants at one side of the machine and outside of the outer run'of a carrier, and the ,spindles on the outer run of the other carrieroperating upon the plants of another row at the opposite side of themachine and outside of the outer run of the second-named carrier, meansfor folding the spindles relatively to the carriers,vas said.

spindles approach the center of the machine,

and means for stripping the collected cotton from the spindles anddelivering the saine at the rear central portion of said machine.

4. A cotton harvester, comprising a frame and supporting Wheelstherefor, endless carriers mounted in the frame, one at each side of thecenter thereof, means for operating the carriers, and horizontallydisposed ro. tatably mounted picker spindles movable vwith the carriers,the spindles of one carrier adapted to'operate upon a row of cottonplants at one side of the center of the machine,'and the spindles of theother carrier adapted to operatev upon' the plants of a row at the otherside of the center of the machine, `means including toothed Wheels onthe spindles and fixed racks over which said Wheels travel,A wherebysaid spindles are rotated, the spindles of the two carriers machine,means for folding the spindles relatively to the carriers as theyapproach the center of the machine, means for stripping the collectedcotton from'the spindles machine, and their inner runs moving `to- Wardthe front, means for operating the carriers in unison, picker-spindlesmovable with the carriers, means adjacent the outer run of the carriersfor rotating the pickerspindles carried thereby, the spindles of one thecotton plants during the` travel of the outer run of the carriers towardthe rear of the machine, means-for changing the angle of thepicker-spindles as the spindles of each carrier approach each other fromopposite directions at the rear end of the machine, and means at therear central portion of the machine and toward which the spindles of thetivo carriers approach from opposite directions, for stripping thecollected cotton from the spindles of both carriers and delivering thesame centrally of the machine.

6.- A cotton harvester, comprising a frame and supporting wheelstherefor, endlesscarriers mounted in the frame having their outer runsmoving' toward the rear of the machine, and their inner runs movingtoward the front,means for operating the carriers in unison,picker-spindles movable with the carriers, means adjacent the outer runof the carriers for rotating the pickerspindles carried'thereby, thespindles of one carrier operating upon one'rowI of cotton plants at oneside of the machine and outside of the outer run ofa carrier, and thespindles on the outer run ofthe other carrier operating upon the plantsof another row at the opposite sideof the machine and outside of theouterl run of the secondnamed carrier, means adjacent the outer run ofthe carriers for holding the pickerspindles carried thereby projectedradially and across the cotton plants during the travel Aof the outerrun of the carriers toward the rear of the machine, means for changingthe angle of the picker-spindles as the spindles of each carrierapproach each other from opposite directions at the rear end of themachine, means at the rear central portion of the machine for strippingthe collected cotton from the spindles of both carriers and deliveringthe same centrally of the machine, said spindles remaining in foldedposition as they are moved along -the central portion of the machinetoward the front end thereof, and means for progressively changing theangle of the:

relatively to the carriers as said spindles move around the front ofthey machine whereby the spindles enter crosswise of the means forrotating thespindles, said means.

comprising pinions on the inner end of the picker-spindles, verticalrods or bars in which the picker-spindles are mounted, said bars 'orrods being pivotally Carried by Said carriers, and horizontal racksdisposed below' and adjacent the outer runs of'l the carriers over whichthe pinions travel and by which they are rotated, Said racks having endportions curving inwardly toward .the center of the machine and.provided with tangentially arranged teeth and'having the portionintermediate of the ends provided with parallel teeth. L

8. A cotton harvester comprising a frame and supporting wheels, endlesscarriers mounted in the frame, one at each side of the center of theframe, each of'v said carriers havingitswouter run moving towardl therear.of the machine, means for operatingy the carriers, 4picker-spindles' movable with the carriers, and means for rotating thespindles, said meanscomprising pinions on the inner end of thepicker-spindles, vertical rods ory bars in which the pickerspindles aremounted, said bars or-rods being pivotally carriedby said carriers, andhorizontal racks below and adjacent the outer run of the carriers overwhich the` pinions travel and by which they arey rotated, while beingcarrled by the outer run of the carrier toward the rear end of themachine, said racks having inwardly curved',

ends with tangentially arranged teeth and having the portionintermediate of the ends provided with parallel teeth, said rack beingwider than the pinions, and said pinions having teeth beveled `on allsides. v

9. A cotton harvester comprising a frame and supporting wheels,picker-spindle caryriers mounted in the frame means for op-l erating thecarriers, rotatable picker-spin-l .carried b said erating the carriers,rotatable picker spindles movable with the carriers, and a guide fixedto said frame adjacent the outer run of the carriers and having anundulating surface, said carriers comprising pivotally mounted verticalrods or bars in which the picker-spindles are carried, and said rods orbars having oppositely pointing fingers adapted to travel in engagementwith the undulating surface of said guide whereby the picker-spindles onthe outer run of the carriers are horizontally oscillated cordinatelywith their rotation to-cause them to range about inthe cotton plants.`

11. In a cotton harvester having rotatable picker-spindles andsupporting means therefor, means for imparting a horizontaloscillationto the spindles cordinately with their rotation and .whilethey are operating in the cotton plant.

12. In a cotton .harvester having rotatable picker-spindles and meansfor operating the same,t said means includin endless carriers andvertical rods carried t ereby and turnably mounted therein, and in whichrods the picker-spindles are mounted, an undulating guide, andoppositely pointing fingers ui e whereby the rods are oscillated and t eicker-spindles carried thereby are said vertical rods and engaging.

oscillate in a horizontal plane'during their r rotation and causedI torange -aboutin the cotton plant.

' 13.- A cotton harvester comprising a supv porting frame,endless-traveling carriers mounted therein, sprocket-wheels around whichthe carriers pass, picker-spindle supports pivotally mounted on thecarriers S0 as to turnin a horizontal direction, picker- 'spindlescai-ried by said supports, and

means for turning the supports about their pivots to allow the spindlesto fold and unfold relatively` to the carriers, said means includingradially movable bars on the sprocket-wheels and projections on the'picker-spindle supports engaged by', said barsv as the' supportssprocket whee s. l

14. A cotton harvester comprising asup' porting frame, anendless-traveling carrier ,passv around the lio mounted therein', frontand rear sprocketwheels around which they carrier passes,picker-'spindle supports pivotallymounted on the carrier so'as to turnin a' horizontal direction, a series of picker-spindlesY carried by saidsupports, and means forturning the supports about their pivots, to'allowvthe spindles to fold relatively to 'the car-y riers after said spindleshave .passed through the cotton plants and are passin around one of .thesprocket-wheels, sai means including radially movable bars on saidsprocket-wheel and projections on the picker-spindle supports engaged bsaid `bars as the supports pass aroun said v engaged by said rack-barsto rotate sprocket wheel, and a stripper through which the spindles aredrawn in their folded condition.

15. A cotton harvester comprising a supporting' frame, anendless-traveling carrier mounted therein, front and rear sprocketwheelsaround which the carrier passes, picker-spindle supports pivotallymounted on the carrier so as to turn in a horizontal direction, a seriesof picker-spindles carried by said supports, and means for turning thesupports about their pivots to allow the spindles to fold relatively tothe carriers after said spindles have passed through the cotto-n plantsand are passing around the rear sprocket-Wheel, said means includingradially movable bars on the sprocketwheels having shoulders near theirouter ends, and projections on the picker-spindle supports engaged bysaid shoulders during the outward movement of said bars.

416. A cotton harvester comprising a supporting frame, anendless-traveling carrier mounted therein, front and rear sprocketwheelsaround which the carrier passes, picker-spindle supports pivotallymounted on the carrier so as to turn in a horizontal direction, a seriesof picker-spindles carried by said supports, and means for turning thesupports about their pivots to allow the spindles to fold relatively tothe carriers after said spindles have passed through Vthe cotton `plantsand are passing around the rear sprocket-wheel, said means includingradially movable bars on the sprocketwheels having shoulders near theirouter ends and rack-teeth interior to the vshoulders, saidpicker-spindle supports having projections engaged by said shoulders andhaving a segmental rack-portion engaged by the teeth of said bars.

17. A cotton harvester comprising a supporting frame, anendless-traveling carrier mounted therein, front and rear sprocketwheelsaround which the carrier passes, picker-spindlev supports pivotallymounted on the carrier-so as to turn in a horizontal direction, a seriesof picker-spindles'carried by said supports, and means for turning thesupports about their pivots to allow the spindles to fold relatively tothe carriers after said spindles have passed through the cotton plantsand are passing around the rear sprocket-wheel, said means includingradiallymovable rack-bars on the sprocketwheel, toothed collars xed tothe ends of the ypicker-spindle supports adapted to be the su ports and/thereby change the angle of tlie picker-spindles, and means yengagingthe rack-bars for `progressively projecting and withdrawing the barsduring thepassage of the carrier around said sprockets.

18. A cottom harvester comprising a supportinglframe, anendless-traveling carrier .mounted therein, front and rear sprocketonthe 'carrier so as to turn in a horizontal direction, a series ofpicker-spindles carried .by said supports, and means for turning thesupports about their pivots, to allow the 'spindles to fold relativelyto the carriers after said spindles have passed through the cottonplants, and are passing around the rear sprocket-Wheel, said meansincluding radially movable b ars on the sprocketwheels, means forprojecting and Withdrawing the radial bars as the carriers pass aroundone of the sprocket-wheels, said bars having rack-teeth and thepicker-spindle supports having collars With teeth to be engaged by saidrack-teeth, whereby the supports are rotated and the angle of thepicker-spindles is changed and said spindles are operated so that theyproject substantially radial when entering the plant.

19. A cotton harvester comprlsing a supporting frame, anendless-'traveling carrier mounted therein, front and rearsprocketspindles relatively to the carrier as they pass around the` rearsprocket-wheel, astripping mechanism through which the folded spindlespass and by which they are relieved of the adhering cotton, and meansfor unfolding the picker-spindles at the opposite end of the machine,said means including radially movable rack-bars carried by thesprocket-wheel at the last-named end of the machine, said bars and thepickerspindle supports having projections to be engaged by said bars toimpart a preliminary turnmg motion 'to the'supports, and said supportshaving, also, toothed ortions engaged by said bars for completmg therotatlon and thereby altering the angle of the picker-spindles. wherebythe spindles project substantially radially from the carriers whenentering the cotton plant.

20. A cotton harvester comprlsing a supporting frame, anendless-traveling carrier Vmounted therein, front and rear sprocket-Wheels around which the carrier passes, picker-spindle supportspivotally mounted -on the carriers so as to turn in a horizontaldirection, picker-spindles carried .by said supports, means for foldingthe picker-spindles. relatively to the carrier! as they pass around therear sprocket-wheel, a stripping mechanism through which the foldedspindles pass andby which they are relieved of the adhering cotton andmeans for unfolddles at the opposite endv ing the picker-spin of themachine, said means including radially movableI rack-bars carried by thesprocket-wheel at the last-named end ofthe machine, said bars and thepicker-spindle supports having 'projections to be engaged by said barsto impart a preliminary turnlng motion to the su ports, and saidsupports having, also, toot ed portions engaged by said bars forcompleting the =-rotation and thereby altering the angle of thepickerspindles whereby the spindles project sub- 10 stantially radiallyfrom the carriers *when entering the cotton plant, and means engagingthe inner ends of the radial bars for moving the bars in and out asaroun said sprocket wheel.

, In testimon whereof I aiix my signature 15 they pass Y I

